Qualifying Results for the Trans-Am Series for
the BFGoodrich =?ISO-8859-1?B?rg==?= Tires Cup race at
Mosport International Raceway
CONTACT: Justin Anderson
(704) 348-9400
Cell: (517) 927-3614
Fax: (704) 348-9444
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 17, 2003
PRUETT EARNS RECORD-EQUALING POLE AT MOSPORT
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario ‹ Scott Pruett further etched his name into the
Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup legacy by winning the pole
Saturday for Sunday¹s Victoria Day race at Mosport International Raceway.
Pruett recorded a 1:18.1-minute lap at 113.377 miles per hour to earn his
23rd pole, equaling the record held by the late Mark Donohue. It was also
the driver of the No. 7 Jaguar R Performance XKR¹s third-straight pole this
season.
³The pole puts me in a great mindset,² said Pruett, who last won the pole
here in 1987, and is undefeated at Mosport, having won in each of his three
Trans-Am Series Mosport appearances. ³We came here on Thursday very focused
on the car. We really spent a lot of time working with high-mileage tires,
because that¹s what caught us out at Long Beach.
³It was good to find out we had a good balance when we put new tires on the
car,² added Pruett. ³Everything at my team, Rocketsports Racing, that has
been done over the years with the Jaguar and car setup makes it easier for
me when I step in.
³I just love Mosport. It¹s just a great track.²
Tomy Drissi will start second, the best starting position of his career. The
driver of the No. 5 League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Movie Jaguar XKR
recorded a 1:18.5-minute lap at 112.752 mph. Interestingly, the effort may
bode well for Drissi, as the outside front row starter has won this race the
most times in its history‹11.
³Working with Scott, Paul (Gentilozzi) and Johnny (Miller), you learn so
much,² said Drissi. ³I hooked up with Scott on Thursday, and he showed me a
pretty good line. On Thursday (during the promoter¹s test day) was the first
chance I had to really work my craft and make the car work for you here.
³I think the extra seat time we got this weekend really helped me,² he
added. ³It should be a good race.²
Johnny Miller, driver of the No. 64 Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR, was
third fastest with a 1:18.6-minute lap at 112.569 mph.
³We were able to get consistently quick laps,² said Miller, who finished
second in last year¹s Mosport race. ³It was only fast enough for third, but
it was consistent, so I think the car is going to be a really good race car.
This is something we¹ve been working on from the beginning of the year, and
it¹s beginning to pay off.
Michael Lewis (No. 12 Trans-Am Tools by ProQuest Jaguar XKR) and Paul
Gentilozzi, (No. 3 Jaguar R Performance XKR) completed the top five. Rookie
Bobby Sak, Stu Hayner, Jorge Diaz, Jr., Randy Ruhlman and Max Lagod will
start in positions sixth through 10th.
Lap by Lap Notes:
4:18 GREEN FLAG, Group 1
4:23 Scott Pruett (No. 7 Jaguar XKR) leads the pack. Johnny Miller (No.
64 Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR) second fastest
4:25 Pruett sets his fast lap (1:18.1/113.377) on lap five.
4:27 Pruett enters the pits
4:31 Stu Hayner (No. 2 Chevrolet Corvette) and Bobby Sak (No. 10
Chevrolet Corvette) enter the pits
4:34 FIRST GROUP CHECKERED
GREEN FLAG, Group 2
4:45 Charlie Webster (No. 95 Chevrolet Camaro) reported to have loose
body work.
4:46 Webster spins in turn three, continues on
4:49 Webster¹s car smoking center rear, Webster enters pits.
5:00 CHECKERED FLAG
Post Qualifying Notebook:
* Jerry Simmons, who is making his final start in the Trans-Am Series for
the BFGoodrich® Tires Cup Sunday, May 18 at Mosport International Raceway,
will celebrate his 19-year career in the Series prior to the green flag.
Simmons, who qualified 15th, will take the warm-up lap from the pole to
celebrate his final start.
³It¹s been a wonderful career² said Simmons, who will start the
warm-up lap in position one, then fall back on
the backstretch and start the race from his original starting
position. ³I never set out to do this as a career. I
do it because of the love of the sport. And I¹ve enjoyed every
minute. I¹m a little sad about leaving, but I¹m not
finished racing. Though, I plan to be more of weekend racer now. I
plan to go back into amateur racing in a
number of different series that require less commitment.
³I¹d like to thank the rest of the guys for letting me start from
the pole,² added Simmons. ³It¹s not really the
pole, but I¹ll take a parade lap in front of the field so I can wave
goodbye to a lot of good friends.²
Simmons is proud to end his career at Mosport.
³It is my home track,² said Simmons. ³I live about two hours from
here. I¹ve raced here in every Trans-Am
Series race for the last 18 years. It¹s significant for me to come
here to end my Trans-Am Series career.²
Simmons, driver of the No. 76 Too Fast Racing Ford Mustang, will
make his 91st Series start Sunday, and has
posted a best finish of ninth, at Trois-Rivières in 1992. Simmons
made his Series debut in 1984 at Watkins Glen
International in New York. Simmons also won the 1999 Canadian GT
Championship Series race at Mosport.
* Johnny Miller, driver of the No. 64 Eaton Cutler-Hammer Jaguar XKR in the
Trans-Am Series, with his sponsor Eaton Cutler-Hammer, lent a helping hand
to the Canadian United Way. On Wednesday, May 14, Miller and Eaton
Cutler-Hammer held a charity luncheon at Eaton¹s Milton, Ontario facility.
The luncheon, which was for Eaton Cutler-Hammer employees, customers
and friends, raised money for the
United Way charity and also allowed Eaton to show off their
involvement in Miller¹s Trans-Am Series race
program. Proceeds from the event went to the local Milton office of
the Canadian United Way.
³What a great afternoon with my sponsors and the wonderful
volunteers from the United Way,² said Miller,
who has been working with Eaton for six seasons now. ³We had a lot
of fun here today with the United Way
and all of the folks at Eaton, showing Eaton¹s customers and
employees what our racing program is all about.²
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